SECTION 4 – EXAMPLE PROCEDURAL PLAN

This section describes a hypothetical example of managing a wind related incident on an ‘at-risk’ section of road. The purpose of this section of the Guideline is to identify the key stages in the wind management procedure through the use of a timeline example.

The following table presents the individual tasks which should be undertaken as
part of best practice when managing a wind incident. The example is based upon a two-stage process where two threshold levels are used (the process can easily be extended to include an earlier stage using the same principles, i.e. ‘CAUTION HIGH WINDS’). The stages are:

Stage 1 – Closed to High-sided Vehicles and

Stage 2 – Closed to All Vehicles.

Process	Tasks Undertaken
Risk Identification/ State of Alert	Alert (via email/phone/text) sent to the Road Maintenance Organisation (RMO) by the weather service provider warning of the risk of severe gales this afternoon and early evening. The RMO activates real time wind speed data collection from meteorological monitoring sites within the area. The RMO informs the local police and the Road Authority Control Centre (RACC) of the risk of severe gales later this afternoon and early evening. Local police open an incident within their local command and control centre related to the area of the potential severe weather warning. The RMO confirms the capacity of the pre-agreed diversion route(s), where appropriate.
Monitoring	The RMO commences monitoring of real time wind speed data obtained from sites located within high risk exposed sections of the road. Real time wind speeds displayed on the RMO’s wind monitoring and information control system are approaching levels which require Stage 1 actions to be carried out, in accordance with the wind management procedures. RMO receives an automatic alert informing that the wind speed has exceeded the pre-determined threshold.
Implementation of Restrictions	RMO advises the local police that the Stage 1 threshold has been breached. Police, using their powers, decide to confirm a Stage 1 response as per the agreed procedures. RMO informs the RACC and local authority that the police have implemented a Stage 1 restriction. Police to attend on site as appropriate and in line with the procedures to enforce the high-sided vehicle restriction. Generally, signage and implementation of (pre-planned) diversionary routes will be the responsibility of the road maintenance organisation. RACC sets the variable message signs (VMS) to inform of the high-sided vehicle restriction. The RMO instructs the traffic management (TM) crew to attend the site, setting out the TM that has been pre-agreed in the development of the procedures. RMO ensures, through discussions with the local authority and police, that the agreed diversion route(s) is problem-free and not suffering any similar wind impacts. The RMO provides regular feedback to the RACC and the police on the capacity of the agreed diversion route(s), where appropriate.
Information Dissemination	RACC populates the website and provides incident related data to Value Added Service Providers (VASPS) and other media. RACC operator sets strategic VMS to use the specified alternative route and delay times if known.
Strategic Management	RACC operator commences monitoring of strategic traffic flows in the vicinity of the wind related incident.
Monitoring	Weather service provider advises RMO that the risk of the severe gales has increased. RMO receives an automatic alert from the wind monitoring and information control system informing that the winds have increased beyond the Stage 2 threshold.
Implementation of Road Closure	RMO advises the local police that the Stage 2 threshold has been breached. Police, using their powers, decide to confirm a Stage 2 response as per the agreed procedures. RMO informs the RACC and local authority that the police have implemented a Stage 2 closure. Police to attend on site as appropriate and in line with the procedures to enforce the closure. Generally signage and implementation of (pre-planned) diversionary routes will be the responsibility of the RMO. RACC sets the VMS signs to inform of the full closure. The RMO instructs the traffic management (TM) crew to attend the site, setting out the TM that has been pre-agreed in the development of the procedures. RMO ensures, through discussions with the local authority and police, that the agreed diversion route(s) is problem-free and not suffering any similar wind impacts. The RMO provides regular feedback to the RACC and the police on the capacity of the agreed diversion route(s), where appropriate.
Information Dissemination	RACC populates the website and provides incident related data to Value Added Service Providers (VASPS) and other media. RACC operator sets strategic VMS to use specified alternative route and delay times if known.
Strategic Management	RACC operator continues to monitor strategic traffic flows in the vicinity of the wind related incident.
Monitoring	Weather service provider advises RMO that the risk of the severe gales has further reduced. RMO receives an automatic alert from the wind monitoring and information control system informing that the wind speed has fallen below the 2nd threshold and has remained below for an agreed period of time (e.g. 15 minutes).
Information Dissemination	RMO contacts the police command and control to recommend that the closure can be reduced to a Stage 1 restriction. Police command and control decide that the full closure should be reduced as appropriate. RMO advises RACC and local authority with updates.
Reduction in Restrictions	RACC operator receives confirmation of return to a Stage 1 restriction and revises the strategic information to relate to a high-sided vehicle closure, continuing to monitor the congestion on approach to the problem area. RMO reduces the restriction and opens the road/bridge to non-high-sided vehicles. RMO continues to provide regular feedback to the RACC and the police on the capacity of the agreed diversion route(s).
Monitoring	Weather service provider advises RMO that the risk of the severe gales has further reduced. RMO receives an automatic alert from the wind monitoring and information control system informing that the wind speed has fallen below the 1st threshold and has remained below for an agreed period of time (e.g. 15 minutes).
Information Dissemination	RMO contacts the police command and control to recommend that restrictions can be removed. Police command and control decide that the restrictions can be removed. RMO advises RACC and local authority with updates.
Removal of Restrictions/State of Alert	RMO removes the restriction and the police and traffic management crew are stood down. RACC receives confirmation of the restriction removal and removes the strategic information relating to the high-sided vehicle closure, continuing to monitor the congestion on approach to the problem area. Wind speeds have dropped below all thresholds and all warning signs have been switched off etc. RMO continues to provide regular feedback to the RACC and the police on the capacity of the agreed diversion route(s) for an agreed period after the restriction has been removed.

Two-Stage Procedure Example Flowchart in Appendix A

The flow chart in Appendix A presents the above individual tasks in graphical format identifying the processes and procedures undertaken by, and the interaction between, the various organisations involved in managing a high wind incident. The flow chart presents the levels of interaction at various stages in the process prior to, during and after the incident. As previously mentioned, although the flow-chart refers to a two-stage procedure, the process can be easily amended to cover a three-stage procedure beginning with a ‘Caution High Wind’ warning at Stage 1.